Top 5 Industries in Vermont: Which Parts of the Economy Are Strongest?

Vermont is well-known for many industries, and the main businesses in Vermont have made the economy going stronger than ever.

Here are the top five industries in the state:

1. Manufacturing has grown in leaps and bounds in the last number of years, largely due to Vermont's largest for-profit company, IBM. The company produces approximately 25 percent of all manufacturing jobs in the state and has 5,000 workers as of 2013. The company also provides one billion dollars of the state's annual income.

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2. It's no surprise that agriculture also tops the list for best industries in Vermont. Jobs in this field make up a good bit of the economy, including those done in the stone quarries. With Vermont at one time being the second largest producer of marble, granite and slate, many jobs were created for this industry. It's a well-known fact that marble is the state rock and that many consumers look to Vermont for their mining abilities.

3. Vermont is also a big producer of animal products and crops, including corn, rice, soybeans, and cotton and wool. Vermonters also produce a lot of maple syrup that many of the homeowners make themselves. Apples are the largest fruit crop and are also the state official fruit.

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4. Service is another top industry in Vermont, with private health care, hotels, ski resorts, and repair shops leading the pack. Wholesale trade is a huge industry with wood, plastic and wood products, along with retail trade that gives a great boost to the economy. In fact, tourism in Vermont is reaching all-time highs with the advent of technology that connects consumers to great destinations to visit.

5. Since 2007, wine has become a major industry in Vermont with over 14 wineries now in the state. The industry first started in 1985, but has grown exponentially, especially because of the agriculture industry that allows for vineyards to thrive in the state.

According to the Vermont Grape and Wine Council, grape varieties such as Marquette, Frontenac, and La Crescent do quite well in Vermont, impressing judges from all across the world.

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